Regional budget for 8/31/07

Thursday

Aug 30, 2007 at 12:01 AMAug 30, 2007 at 12:47 AM

Jonie Larson, Regional Editor

GateHouse News Service Regional Budget (8/31/07)

Here are the top Illinois stories coming today from GateHouse News Service. Stories are available at http://ghns.ghnewsroom.com
*Please check this Web site in the evening for changes to story lineup, including breaking news.
Contacts:
Regional Editor Jonie Larson, (217) 816-3343, jlarson@gatehousemedia.com
National Editor Jean Hodges, (630) 348-3350, jhodges@gatehousemedia.com

News

ICE CREAM SLAYERS: Three teens shot Rockford ice cream vendor Isidro Duran in the back as he tried to run away earlier this summer. The motive was robbery. The teens are in for their first court appearance Thursday. Who are these boys? What drove them to this senseless crime? CURRY/LaCross/ROCKFORD/with mugs 6 p.m./Illinois

OTB FUNDS AXED: The governor has “obliterated” the OTB funds from the state budget -- which leaves gaping holes for everything from the zoo to the museum to Forest Park Nature Center. (6 p.m.) TERRY BIBO/KAREN MCDONALD/PEORIA/lllinois

LABOR DAY TRAVEL: (w/pic) This upcoming weekend is a big end-of-summer travel time. Will look at gas prices and offer people other tips to survive the travel-heavy weekend. (15 inches by 5 p.m.) HILYARD/PEORIA/Illinois

FRAUD UPDATE: Several police agencies including Illinois State Police, Knox County and Bartonville Police are working together to find more victims of alleged fraud by a Bartonville-based home repair firm. For nine months the owners of Illini Siding and Windows continued to solicit and accept payment for home repair work without performing the work. Several victims have come forward and there are believed to be many more. (15 inches by 5 p.m.) ANDY KRAVETZ/PEORIA/Illinois

PEPMEYER. The Illinois Department of Labor has determined there’s evidence that the victims economic safety and security act was violated concerning one or more of the complaints filed against Knox County State’s Attorney John Pepmeyer. We’re talking with attorney about this recent development. (10 inches by 7:30 p.m.) BRENDA ROTHERT/PEORIA/Illinois

DAUGHTRY OTW: The former American Idol wannabe is the headline opener for Rockford's On the Waterfront festival, billed as Illinois' largest outdoor music festival. The pre-festival concert is Thursday night, and the event starts in earnest Friday at 5 p.m. Georgette Braun reviews the rocker's performance before thousands of cheering fans. ROCKFORD/PHOTOS SKEDDED BRAUN/Shultz 11 p.m./Illinois News and Travel

GET OUT TO THE LPGA: It’s the final week of August, and that means the 32nd annual LPGA State Farm Classic is under way in Springfield. KANE/SPRINGFIELD
BREAKOUT: Want to go box
ART: Photo
Categories: Travel and Illinois Sports/later this afternoon

HOLD THAT TIGER: Coach Gary Pinkel doesn't want to talk big heading into the first game, but Missouri is poised for a big year. The Tigers return quarterback Chad Daniel, the leader of an explosive spread offense, and Missouri enters the season opener against Illinois as the favorite to win the Big 12 Conference's north division. SUPINIE/CHAMPAIGN/Illinois Sports

BEARS: Coverage of the final exhibition game vs. the Cleveland Browns. Game starts at 7 p.m. SCHRECK/Ruef/ROCKFORD/around 10:30 p.m./Illinois Sports and Bears

ILLINI SEASON PRE: A preview of the football season, which opens on Saturday. TAFT/Ruef 9 p.m./ROCKFORD/this evening/Illinois Sports

Opinions

EDITORIAL: GOV DID THE RIGHT THING - Given the intense criticism that has been lobbed at Gov. Rod Blagojevich of late, it would probably have been a lot easier for him to just quietly sign Senate Bill 1463 - a bill that would have required each public school classroom in the state to begin each day with a moment of silence. SPRINGFIELD/posted/Illinois Opinions

EDITORIAL: FAT BILL - A national disease prevention group announced some more bad obesity news this week - obesity rates in 31 states last year increased and not a single state showed a decline. SPRINGFIELD/posted/Illinois Opinions

CAPITOL ANALYSIS: WHAT ARE TWO-YEAR SCHOOLS LOOKING TO DO? One Illinois community college could offer bachelor's degrees, and others could run their own student housing operations under separate legislative proposals that have some observers wondering: Are the state's two-year schools looking to change their traditional role?
BREAKOUT: Two house bills
COLINDRES/CAPITOL BUREAU/moving Friday/Illinois Opinion and Illinois News

CAPITOL NOTEBOOK: A five-point review of the week at the Capitol. CAPITOL BUREAUS/Illinois Opinion